Origins
Harry S. Truman was born on May 8, 1884, in Lamar, Missouri, to John Anderson Truman and Martha Ellen Young Truman. The “S” in his name was a compromise honoring both grandfathers and stood alone without representing a specific name. The family relocated to Independence, Missouri, where Truman grew up in modest circumstances. Poor eyesight prevented him from attending West Point, and financial constraints meant he could not pursue a traditional college education. Instead, he worked various jobs, including as a timekeeper for a railroad construction company, a bank clerk, and a farmer on his family’s land. His service in World War I proved formative; Truman commanded Battery D of the 129th Field Artillery in France, earning respect for his leadership under fire and forging political connections that would prove valuable in subsequent decades.
Truman’s political career began in 1922 when Tom Pendergast’s Kansas City political machine supported his successful campaign for Jackson County judge, an administrative rather than judicial position. He served as presiding judge from 1927 to 1934, gaining a reputation for honesty despite his machine connections. In 1934, Truman won election to the United States Senate, where he initially attracted little national attention. His chairmanship of the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program during World War II, known as the Truman Committee, established his reputation for rooting out waste and corruption. This visibility led to his selection as Franklin Roosevelt’s running mate in 1944, replacing the more liberal Henry Wallace. Truman served only eighty-two days as Vice President before Roosevelt’s death thrust him into the presidency on April 12, 1945.
Presidency
Truman inherited an economy transitioning from wartime production and faced significant domestic challenges. He proposed the Fair Deal, an ambitious program extending New Deal liberalism through national health insurance, civil rights legislation, and federal aid to education. Congressional resistance, particularly from a coalition of Republicans and Southern Democrats, blocked most major initiatives. However, Truman achieved notable successes, including the Employment Act of 1946, which established federal responsibility for economic stability, and the Housing Act of 1949. His executive orders desegregating the armed forces and the federal workforce in 1948 represented significant civil rights advances. Labor unrest marked his tenure, culminating in his controversial seizure of steel mills in 1952, which the Supreme Court struck down in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer.
Foreign policy dominated the Truman presidency as the Cold War crystallized. His administration articulated the containment doctrine through the Truman Doctrine of 1947, pledging support for nations resisting communist pressure, and implemented the Marshall Plan to reconstruct Western Europe. The Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949 demonstrated American resolve against Soviet pressure. Truman oversaw the creation of NATO in 1949 and the recognition of Israel in 1948. His decision to use atomic weapons against Japan in August 1945 remains among the most debated presidential actions in American history. The Korean War, beginning in June 1950, tested containment militarily; Truman’s dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur in April 1951 for insubordination reasserted civilian control over the military but proved deeply unpopular domestically.
Historical Significance
Truman left office in January 1953 with approval ratings among the lowest recorded, burdened by the Korean stalemate, corruption scandals involving administration officials, and McCarthyism’s political pressures. The Cold War architecture he constructed—NATO, containment policy, and expanded executive authority in foreign affairs—shaped American policy for decades. His successor, Dwight Eisenhower, largely maintained Truman’s international framework while adopting a more cautious domestic agenda. The precedents Truman established regarding presidential authority in national security matters influenced subsequent administrations significantly.
Historical assessment of Truman has improved markedly since his departure from office. Scholars increasingly credit his administration with constructing durable international institutions and preventing Soviet expansion in Europe. His civil rights initiatives, though limited, represented meaningful federal action. Debates continue regarding the atomic bombings, Korean War decisions, and the expansion of loyalty programs that contributed to McCarthyism. Contemporary rankings typically place Truman among the near-great presidents, recognizing his consequential decisions during a transformative period while acknowledging the controversies that attended his tenure.
Key Developments
- May 8, 1884: Born in Lamar, Missouri
- June 28, 1919: Married Elizabeth “Bess” Virginia Wallace in Independence, Missouri
- November 7, 1922: Elected judge of Jackson County’s eastern district
- November 6, 1934: Elected to United States Senate from Missouri
- January 20, 1945: Inaugurated as Vice President under Franklin Roosevelt
- April 12, 1945: Assumed presidency following Roosevelt’s death
- August 6, 1945: Authorized atomic bombing of Hiroshima
- March 12, 1947: Announced Truman Doctrine before Congress
- November 2, 1948: Won upset presidential election against Thomas Dewey
- April 4, 1949: Signed North Atlantic Treaty establishing NATO
- June 25, 1950: Korean War began following North Korean invasion
- April 11, 1951: Relieved General Douglas MacArthur of command
- January 20, 1953: Left office; succeeded by Dwight Eisenhower
- December 26, 1972: Died in Kansas City, Missouri